Letter from Ora Elizabeth Anderson
This is a letter I found in either my grandmother Phillips' trunk or my ggrand mother Anderson trunk. The contents got mixed up when several of the family were going through it after my father's A. W. Phillips funeral. I believe it to be from Orra Elizabeth Anderson. This letter was not in an envelope. I do not know to whom it was written, or if it was ever finished as apparently it was never signed. Marilyn Phillips Vaught, Granddaughter of Mrs. C.M. Phillips.
I received your letter and enjoyed it as it was from and old timer I certainly do remember how we all had to work when I was a very small girl. My mother kept me busy sewing most of the time as we had no machines those days when little girls spent the night with each other they carried their knitting and would race to see who could knit the most. Well I do remember the corn shuckings, the log rolling and quiltings and such a time we had. The boys would come in and thread our needles for us and beg for a party that night which they invariably got and sometimes a dance but I never danced a set in my life. I think we enjoyed life and was better contented than our young people are today with all the modern conveniences such as car riding, picture shows and many other things too numerous to name. My husband died in 1912. He served in the civil was [war?] about two years. We were both natives of Georgia, Upson Co. We moved to Texas in 1870, settled Rusk Co. There were born to us 11 children, 6 of whom are living. I make my home with my youngest daughter, Mrs C. M. Phillips. I am a Methodist though I love all true Christians. My husband was a steward for many years prior to his death. I am trying to live so that after awhile we may meet again, to live forever with Jesus and the redeemed ones in the city where there is no night.
Orra Elizabeth Taylor Anderson died in Appleby, TX in 1922